Thimble



J. E: SMITH Sept. 16, 1952 THIMBLE Filed July 21, 1950 FIG. 3

FIG. 6

FIG.

FIG. 8

FIG- 7 FIG- INVEN TOR JANE E. SMITH AT TORNEY Patented Sept. 16, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT'0FFICE iffi Jane E. Smith, New London, Conn. Application July 21, 1950, Serial No. 175,178

7 Claims. (01. 2.23-'-1o1) This invention relates to the art of sewing and more particularly to thimbles of the character used in such art and designed to conveniently and comfortably fit upon the'finger of the wearer without the exertion of any particular degree of friction or pressure.

Prior art thimbles have been generally round and, in some instances, substantially oval, in cross-sectional conformation and reliance has been had upon positive frictional engagement to retain the thimble upon the extremity of the finger, when in use. Such frictional engagement is, of necessity, constricting and, depending upon the degree thereof, impedes circulation and tends to cause discomfort. Further, with the general trend in fashion to longer finger nails, thimbles provided with closed ends so as to protect the ball of the finger of the user, are gradually falling into disuse since pressure upon the extremity of a finger nail is all but intolerable. It is these deficiencies in prior art devices which the applicant has corrected.

Accordingly, it is a major object of the present invention to provide a novel thimble of such transverse and longitudinal cross-sectional con-' formation as to gently and conveniently fit upon the finger of the wearer with a maximum of comfort.

It is a further object of the invention to pro',

vide a novel thimble especially conformed so as to provide appropriate room for the extending finger nail of the wearer.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a novel thimble especially conformed so as to provide a greater bearing surface for the needle to be engaged thereby, thus reducing to a minimum the possibility of the extremity of the needle inadvertently slipping from the thimble surface, when pressure is applied.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a thimble which will conform 'closely to the configuration of the extremity of the finger upon which the device is worn, providing, in addition to a thimble, a protective covering for said extremity which may be retained'in position without discomfort and which will not inter-' fere with freedom of movement or use of the finger.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a novel thimble constructed in accordance with the present invention;

2 Fig. 2, a side elevational view illustrated in Fig. 1; v I i I Fig. 3, an end elevational view'illustrating the closed end of the thimble;

Fig. 4,'an end elevational view illustratingthe openend of the thimble; Fig. 5, a longitudinal sectional view through the thimble, taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6, a longitudinal sectional view through the thimble, taken on the line 6-6 of Fig; 2; Fig. '7, a transverse sectional view through the thimble,taken on the line of Fig. 1; Fig. 8, a transverse sectional'view through the of the thimble thimble, taken on the line 88 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 9, a longitudinal sectional view through the thimble, somewhat similar to Fig. 5, illustrat-' ing the first jointof the finger upon which the thimble is worn in flexed position.

As shown in the drawing, the thimble indicated generally at 10 is substantially ovate transverse cross-sectional conformation, tapering by way of arcuate or parabolic surfaces from an open. extremity H to an apex I2. These parabolic surfaces are not true parabolas but are uniquely conformed, as will be described more fully hereinafter, for particular purposes. a

Preferably, the exterior surface of the thimble. is appropriately dimpled, as is well known in this art, for purposes of both ornamentation and utility as such a surface assists in preventing dis'-' placement of the bearing surface of the thimble from the extremity of the needle with which it may be engaged. If desired, and also for purposes of ornamentation, a smooth and polished surface may be provided about the thimble, lo'-' The apex I2 of the thimble is not unduly sharp; and the parabolical' surfaces leading thereto.

from the open end of the thimble are neither uniform nor'complementary. The upper surface I3 is substantially horizontally disposed, imme diately adjacent the open extremity of thethimble, and terminates in an arcuate surface of progressively decreasing radius. Thus, this sur face conforms to the natural contour of the upper surface of the extremity of a finger and finger nail. The sum total of the horizontal and arcuate portions of the surface i3 is a parabolic surface which, as indicated more particularly in Fig. 5 of the drawing, terminates at the apex I2 of the thimble.

Preferably, the thimble is formed from relatively thin material such as plastic, metal, or the like, andmay be conveniently molded or stamped therefrom. The interior surfaces of the thimble closely conform to the exterior surfaces and, when the thimble is worn upon the finger, the horizontal extremity of the surface l3 engages the upper surface of the finger immediately beyond the base of the finger nail, the normal angular relationship of the finger nail being one of slight downward inclination toward the apex of the thimble. In this manner, and as will be apparent from an examination of Fig. 5 of the drawing, appropriate room is provided within the thimble so that possibility of pressure upon the extremity of the finger nail has been obviated.

The lower surface M of the thimble is also substantially horizontally disposed at the. origin thereof, immediately adjacent the open end of. the thimble. The parabolic curvature of this surface develops very slowly, however, and termimates in an arcuate surface of sharply decreas ing radius extending to the ,apex of the thimble. An examination of this parabolic surface will disclose that it may be said to consist of three parts: The first third thereof, immediately adjacent the open end of the thimble, is substantially horizontally disposed; the middle. third, which overlies: the ball. of the fingerwhen the thimble is. in use, is the bearing surface of the thimble and comprises a long curve of relatively great radius; the final. third, terminatingat. the apex, is. of sharply decreasing radius, however, the intermediate and final thirds merge into each other gently and the relationship therebetween is such that a substantial portion of the final third may also be conveniently utilized as a bearing surface.

The side surfaces I5- of the thimble are. also parabolic, the extremities immediately adjacent the open end of the thimble being substantially horizontally disposed. These side surfaces are complementarily conformed, in contradistinction to theupper and lower surfaces which are complementary to varying finger surfaces, and merge into the apex of the thimble. It will be observed that. the merger of these complementary sidesurfaces, along a horizontal plane above the lontudinal center line of the thimble is substantially more arcuate than the merger of the upper and lower, surfaces, also along the longitudinal. center lineof the thimble.

The. cross-sectional configuration of the open end of. the thimble is substantially ovate,conforming generally to the periphery of a finger adjacent the first joint thereof. This ovate configuration, however, progressively and continuously varies as the apex of the thimble is approached. Considering Fig. 7 of the drawing, wherein is illustrated the cross-sectional contour at a point immediately adjacent the termination of the substantially horizontally disposed portion of the lower surface I4, the ovate configuration is widened along the vertical axis thereof, becoming more oval and inclining inwardly along the sides and bottom but not along the top. Considering Fig. 8. of the drawing, wherein is illustrated, the cross-sectional contour atv a 4 point immediately adjacent the termination of the intermediate third of the thimble, the ovate configuration is sharply narrowed on all four sides, becoming substantially more flat on the upper surface (adjacent the base of the finger nail) and more arcuate on the lower surface (adjacent the ball of the finger) By such carefully planned conformation the natural configuration of the extremity of the finger has been approached successfully and a thimble has been provided which will conveniently fit upon the finger, without frictional pressure and with the comfort of a glove, adequate room having been provided for the accommodation of the finger nail.

It will be obvious to those skilled in this art that the thimble thus described may be manufactured in a plurality of sizes to provide ap propriate fit for fingers of large, small or medium size hands. It has been found that a particularly small. range of sizes is. required since the parabolic conformation materially assists in. providing comfort of fit. The particular con.- formation of the lower surface of the. thimble provides a measurably increased bearing surface,

for engagement with the extremity of a needle or the like, and successfully limits the possibility of the needle inadvertently slipping fromthe. thimble surface when. pressure. is applied.

The thimble is not only particularly light in weight and comfortable, but. the gentle glove-like fit is such that the wearing thereof results in no interference with the normal. movement and use of the finger extremity.

As will be more readily apparent from an examination of Figs. 5 and 9 of the drawing, the novel conformation of the surface H of the thimble, developing from a horizontal portion and continuing to the apex [2, provides a greatly enlarged bearing surface intended for ready en-- gagement with a needle N or the like in comparison with that to be found in prior artLthimbles. A particular advantage of this larger surface is not only convenience of use, which is inherent thereto, but increased speed and accuracy necessarily accompany the use of the device. The needle engaging surfaces are so designed that presentation of the thimble to the needle to which pressure is to be applied automatically provides a bearing surface without any requirement for giving undue consideration. to the flexing of the finger or angular movement or approach of the thimble- In addition, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 9. of the drawings, the natural act of flexing the first joint of the finger upon which the thimble is Worn automatically provides increased room within the thimble apex for the accommodation of the extremity of the finger nail. Thus possibility of painful injury to finger nails, whether by bending or breaking, has been overcome.

It will be obvious to those skilled in this art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawing and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A thimble intended to be worn upon the extremity of a finger and provided with an open end. said thimble being formed from relatively thin material of substantially uniform thickness throughout of generally ovate cross-sectional configuration, complementarily parabolic side surfaces on said thimble merging into an arcuate apex disposed along the longitudinal center line of said thimble, said side surfaces including substantially parallel opposed portions adjacent the open end of the thimble, a parabolic upper sur face on said thimble including a horizontally disposed portion adjacent the open end of the thimble merging into an arcuate surface of progressively decreasing radius, a parabolic lower surface on said thimble including a horizontally disposed portion adjacent the open end of said thimble merging into an arcuate portion of sharply decreasing radius, the linear extent of said lower surface being greater than the linear extent of said upper surface, said upper and lower surfaces merging into said apex on a lesser arc than said side surfaces, said apex being positioned on a horizontal plane above the longitudinal center line of the thimble, the interior configuration of the thimble being substantially identical to that of the exterior thereof.

2. A thimble intended to be worn upon the extremity of a finger and provided with an open end, said thimble being formed from relatively thin material of substantially uniform thickness throughout of generally ovate cross-sectional configuration and including side surfaces of complementary parabolic conformation and top and bottom surfaces also of parabolic conformation, the linear extent of the bottom surface being greater than that of said top surface, said top, bottom and side surfaces merging into an apex positioned on a horizontal plane above the longitudinal center line of the thimble, the interior configuration of the thimble substantially identical to that of the exterior thereof.

3. A thimble as set forth in claim 2 where said upper surface includes a horizontally disposed portion adjacent the open end of the thimble merging into an arcuate surface of progresslvely decreasing radius and said bottom surface includes a horizontally disposed portion adjacent the open end of the thimble, of lesser extent than the opposed horizontally disposed surface on said upper surface, merging into an intermediate portion of relatively great radius and a final portion of sharply decreasing radius terminating at said apex.

4. A thimble as set forth in claim 2 where said bottom surface includes a horizontally disposed portion adjacent the open end of the thimble. an intermediate arcuate portion of relatively great radius, and a final portion of sharply decreasing radius terminating at the apex.

5. A thimble as set forth in claim 2 where the exterior surface thereof is dimpled to insure engagement with the extremity of a needle.

6. A thimble as set forth in claim 1 where an intermediate portion of the upper surface is JANE E. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 837,896 Bourne Dec. 4, 1906 1,522,484 Baker Jan. 13, 1925 2,447,774 Salisbury Aug. 24, 1948 

